1. devotees kneel down to await the arrival of the Nine Emperor Gods and other deities

It’s the first day of the ninth Chinese lunar month today, which means it is once again, time to celebrate the Nine Emperor Gods Festival.

2. devotees kneel down and offer joss-sticks by the bank of Kinta River as they await the arrival of the Nine Emperor Gods and other deities

3. a temporary altar is set up by the bank of Kinta River to perform a ceremony to receive the Nine Emperor Gods and other deities

Devotees of Nine Emperor Gods from Tow Boh Keong, a main Nine Emperor Gods temple in Ipoh, all dressed in white, converged at the temple late at night on the eve of the festival to form a procession to the Kinta River Bridge at Jalan Sultan Iskandar (Hugh Low Street) for a ceremony to receive the Nine Emperor Gods, Goddess Dou Mu, Legendary Third Prince, and other deities from the waterway.

4. a sifu cleanses the path for deities to pass

5. the Nine Emperor Gods sedan ready to depart for Tow Boh Keong

The ceremony, which required disciples and devotees to kneel, took almost thirty minutes to complete, after the sifus (Taoist masters) have successfully scooped items from the river that represent the deities’ spirits, and installed them into ornately painted sedan chairs to be carried back to the temple.

6. LED-lighted float from Tow Boh Keong, Ipoh

7. mediums in trance from another entourage from Tong Tien Koon Temple on the way back to their temple

Meanwhile, other temples that celebrate the Nine Emperor Gods Festival were going through the same ritual at different points of rivers and beaches, to receive the deities to join in the festivities. Nine Emperor Gods Festival is mainly observed in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and even Indonesia, albeit on a modest scale.

8. another medium in trance

9. Tong Tien Koon Temple Nine Emperor Gods sedan

On our return to Tow Boh Keong, we crossed paths with an entourage from Tong Tien Koon Temple, another major Nine Emperor Gods temple in Ipoh, who were also on their way back to base.

10. Tong Tien Koon Temple LED-lighted float

11. a medium in trance returns to Tow Boh Keong

A lengthy ceremony conducted by Taoist priests ensued, and after the deities were safely installed at their rightful places in the temple, devotees were finally allowed to go inside the main temple hall to pray and give offerings to the deities.

12. the bloodied back of a medium

13. The Legendary Third Prince mascot

Faithful devotees from near and far throng Nine Emperor Gods temples in Chinese communities the world over, in droves throughout the day and night during the nine days of festival to pay homage to the Nine Emperor Gods. Some offer thanksgiving for wishes granted.

14. installing the Nine Emperor Gods in Tow Boh Keong

15. deities returning to Tow Boh Keong

At Tow Boh Keong, over these nine days during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, complimentary vegetarian meals are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner, at the temple hall. At the back compound of the temple are vendors selling a good array of vegetarian food throughout the day.

16. entering the temple

17. the official ceremony wraps up

Devotees of the Nine Emperor Gods usually observe a vegetarian diet for ten days, including on the eve of the festival, and abstain from eating meat, poultry, seafood and dairy products.

18. devotees pray to the deities in the wee hours of the first day of Nine Emperor Gods Festival

19. recharging talismans and amulets

They also remain celibate, refrain from impure thoughts, and abstain from smoking and drinking liquor. This is a form of penance as well as mental and spiritual purification.

20. offerings of various items to the deities

21. a simple offering from another devotee

Meanwhile, those exempted from praying to the Nine Emperor Gods are those in mourning and menstruating women.

22. pink tortoise buns for sale that are offered to the deities in pairs